Quake jolts Eastern Samar

CEBU, Philippines - While still on the road to full recovery both from last year’s destructive super typhoon Yolanda and the lesser-devastating super typhoon Ruby this year, a minor earthquake jolted Eastern Samar yesterday morning.

The magnitude 5.5 tremor was felt at 8:25 a.m. yesterday.

Its epicenter was located by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to be 79 kilometers east northeast of Hernani town, Eastern Samar.

Phivolcs further classified the earthquake as tectonic in nature and was felt at intensity 1 in both Tacloban City in Leyte Province and Catbalogan City in Samar Province.

The United States Geological Survey recorded the tremor at magnitude 5.4 with epicenter mapped 54 kilometers north northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; 102 kilometers east northeast of Tacloban, Leyte, and 154 kilometers east southeast of Calbayog, Samar.

As aftershocks were expected to occur, ground shaking was felt an hour after.

A weaker earthquake at magnitude 2.7 as recorded by Phivolcs was felt at 9:24 a.m., its epicenter was located 52 kilometers northeast of Hernani town.

The second aftershock was felt last night exactly 6 o’clock and was recorded to be magnitude 4.4 and located 58 kilometers Northeast of Hernani town.

The magnitude 5.5 shaking was mildly felt  in Cebu as netizens located in the same area, especially in Metro Cebu, posted their accounts and experience via various social media.

No injuries, casualties or damage to property was recorded nor reported as of last night. — Jessa J. Agua/BRP (FREEMAN)